History and the Roles Played by Guns

Action
Working mechanism of a firearm. There are various types. Bolt
Action, Lever Action, Single Action, Double Action, etc.

Automatic
A machine gun. Any repeating firearm that automatically
ejects, chambers and
fires rounds repeatedly, usually at high speed, with a
single, steady pull of the trigger. Also
called Fully Automatic.

Backstrap
The back of a pistol’s frame, the back of the grip.

Ball
A type of bullet or projectile. Usually used in older
firearms such as a flintlock, musket-type weapons.

Barrel
The strong metal tube of a firearm through which the bullet
passes.

Barrel-Cylinder Gap
The clearance between the sides of a bullet and the bore of the barrel
as the bullet travels down it when fired. In the US, the
industry-standard tolerance of the Barrel-Cylinder Gap is from 0.0001
to 0.012 inches. A gap any larger will cause problems with
firing and accuracy.

Blank or Blank Cartridge
A cartridge that has the explosive powder charge but no projectile.

Blowback (Blowback-Operated)
Utilization of the force of hot, expanding
gases released from firing the firearm. In modern firearms,
the
strong force of the blowback is used to eject spent cartridges and a
spring recoil replaces them with new ones in the
chamber. Also called “gas operated.”

Blued or Blueing
The treatment of metal on firearms that results in a black or
bluish-black finish, usually done with chemicals.

Blunderbuss
Precursor to the shotgun. Usually a flintlock weapon, shorter
than a
rifle or a carbine, longer than a pistol, that is identifiable by a
large, flared funnel-like barrel. Used for short-range
close-in fighting, often used on ships as well as by mail and
stagecoach drivers. Also called a naval or pirate
blunderbuss. Used from late 1600s to mid 1800s.

Bolt
Metal bar or rod that slides and seats and/or removes a cartridge.

Bore
The inside of the barrel, or other part that needs to be hollowed out.

Breech
The rear of the barrel.

Breech Loader
A firearm that is loaded at the rear of the barrel.

Buckhorn Sight
An open-top sight with curved sides. Probably so-named
because the shape resembles antlers on a buck.

Bullet
Technically, the projectile portion of a cartridge that is blown off by
detonation of the powder charge, and flies through the air toward the
target, leaving the shell or casing behind to be ejected.
People often refer to the entire cartridge as a
“bullet.” On older black powder or percussion firearms, the
bullet was just a shaped piece of lead.

Butt
The very rear end of a rifle stock or the bottom of a pistol grip.
In the Old West, the butt of a rifle or pistol was used as a
secondary weapon by lawmen to subdue troublemakers.
Very handy for cracking skulls! Sometimes referred
to as “pistol whipping.”

Buttplate
On a rifle, a covering of metal, wood, plastic or other material fitted
onto the very rear end of a rifle butt.

Caliber
Interior diameter of the barrel, or the bore. Also
corresponds to the size of ammunition that will fit in it.

Carbine
A rifle or musket with a short barrel, usually a military version.

Cartridge
A modern “bullet” or metal casing, which is an entirely self-contained
piece of ammunition, with projectile, powder charge and ignition
primer, all in one unit. Nowadays, there are mainly only
three
kinds of cartridge: rimfire, centerfire and shotgun.

Centerfire
A cartridge that is detonated by striking a primer button centered in
its base by the firing pin. If a cartridge has what appears
to
be a “button” in its base end, it’s a centerfire cartridge.

Chamber
The rear of the barrel, or part of the gun where the ammunition is
placed, in position, ready to fire.

Checkering
The crosshatched pattern or texture on a metal, wood or plastic surface
of a firearm, usually used to improve grip, or for decoration.
Especially used on hammers and slides and grips.

Choke
The shaping or an attachment at the muzzle of a shotgun that directs
the spray or pattern of shot as it is fired
out.

Clip
A container or feeding system, usually spring-loaded, that holds
cartridges in place, so that it can be inserted into a firearm’s
magazine. Sometimes, the clip is called a “magazine” or a
removable magazine.

Compensator
A variation of muzzle brake that diverts escaping high-pressure gases
upwards at the muzzle, reducing the general upward kick caused by
recoil to compensate for it, and improve accuracy.

Crowning
The rounded or beveled end surfacing of the barrel opening, (muzzle)
used to
protect the opening and edges.

Cylinder
On a revolver, the rotating “wheel” that holds the cartridges, and
allows them to rotate into position with the chamber for
firing.

Damascus Barrel
On old black powder firearms, a type of barrel made usually of separate
bands of twisted iron. If you have a firearm with a Damascus barrel, it
is not considered safe to shoot due to age, and the fact that such
construction will not withstand the stresses and pressures created by
today’s ammunition.

Deringer, Derringer
Originally a brand of very small pocket pistol made for easy
concealment. Today, the term Deringer or Derringer (2 R’s) is
used to
refer to just about any brand of very small and concealable pocket
pistol.

Double Action
A pistol or revolver that allows the hammer to be cocked and released
by pulling the trigger.

Dry Fire, Dry Firing
Pulling the trigger and sending the firing pin and other parts into
their full range of motion and impact without using
ammunition. Usually considered a bad thing to do,
placing undue stress on the parts.

Extractor
Mechanism that removes empty ammunition casings from the chamber so
they can be ejected clear of the firearm.

Firing Pin
A strong metal rod or pin that forcefully strikes the primer of a
cartridge, firing the firearm.

Flash Suppressor
Attachment (or integral part of the muzzle) that covers the end of the
muzzle, hiding the flash created by firing a firearm.

Flintlock
Old form of ignition for firearms in the days before fully
self-contained cartridges. A locking mechanism with a metal
part that strikes a flint, producing a spark, firing the weapon.

Frizzen
On a flintlock firearm, a curved metal plate, usually
hinged, which is struck
by the hammer, which contains
a flint. When the flint strikes the frizzen, it creates a shower of
sparks, while springing open to expose them to the powder in the pan to
ignite it.

Fully Automatic or Full Automatic
A machine gun. Any repeating firearm that automatically
chambers and fires rounds repeatedly with a single, steady pull of the
trigger. Also called Fully Automatic.

Gas-Operated
Utilization of the force of hot, expanding
gases released from firing the firearm. In modern firearms,
the
strong force of the blowback is used to eject spent cartridges and a
spring recoil replaces them with new ones in the
chamber. Also
called
“blowback-operated.”

Gauge
The inside diameter or bore of a shotgun barrel. A shotgun’s
gauge is determined by a formula of how many balls of shot taken from a
pound of metal will fit in a certain bore size.

Grain
Measurement unit of a powder charge. One pound is equivalent
to 7,000 grains of powder. 437.5 grains is equivalent to one
ounce.

Grip
The handle of a revolver or pistol. Sometimes fully
integrated, or mounted in pieces. Can be wood, metal,
plastic, etc.

Grooves
Spiraled channels cut into the inside of a firearm’s barrel, that cause
a bullet to spin upon firing, stabilizing its trajectory and improving
accuracy.

Half-Cock
Partially cocking a firearm’s hammer so that it does not fall and set
off the firearm. If you slip and let the hammer fall while a
round is chambered, you
will discharge the firearm.

Hammer
Moving part that hinges up on rear (on hammer-equipped firearms), and
snaps back into place with force, detonating the cartridge.
Flint-tipped hammers are also used on flintlocks, to strike
the frizzen to ignite powder.

Hangfire
A malfunction in the primer of a cartridge that causes a delay in
firing after the trigger is pulled. Obviously, if you have a
long or ongoing hangfire or misfire, DO NOT look into the barrel to see
what’s
going
on. Some people have actually (stupidly?) died doing this!

Hollowpoint
Bullet with a hollow area in the nose, that causes it to expand on
impact, increasing its destructive force.

Jam
Misfire, caused by a mechanical part malfunction, or by a cartridge
being stuck midway in the magazine or chamber. Also, almost any other
kind of mechanical blockage in the firearm.

Lands
Inside the barrel of a riflled firearm, the raised areas of the metal
surface,
that remain above the cut rifling grooves.

Magazine
Spring-loaded container that feeds cartridges into the firing
chamber. Detachable or non-detachable. Sometimes
called a “clip.”

Magnum
A longer version of a cartridge of the same
caliber. The increased length is to accommodate more powder
for
increased velocity, power and range.

Mainspring
On a flintlock musket or rifle, a strong spring that holds the hammer
back in the cocked position until released by pulling the trigger.

Misfire
When a cartridge fails to discharge, or to discharge properly.

Musket
A smoothbore barrel (no rifling) firearm. Usually an old
firearm with a flintlock firing system.

Musketoon
Short barrel, smoothbore, muzzle-loading carbine. A
short-barrel version of a musket. Similar to a carbine.

Muzzle
The end of the barrel, the opening where the bullet exits.

Muzzle Brake
Attachment or shaping at the muzzle to dissipate or reduce gas pressure
in order to reduce recoil.

Muzzle Energy
The force (measured in foot-pounds) of a bullet exiting the muzzle.
Similar to recoil.

Muzzle Loader
Firearm that is loaded through the muzzle, with a solid
breech. Old smoothbores are muzzle loaders.

Pan
On a flintlock musket or rifle, a small bowl-shaped pan that holds a
small
charge of powder. When
ignited by the flint striking the frizzen, it flashes down a drilled
hole in barrel, igniting the main charge in the barrel.

Parabellum
General name given to cartridges measuring 9 X 19mm. Also the
popular nickname of a famous German Pistol in that same
caliber, made by
Deutsche Munitions Fabrik (DWF) beginning in the early 1900s.
Parabellum is a latin word (si vis pacem, para bellum) meaning: “If you
wish for peace, prepare for war”

Parkerizing
A dull gray or greenish finish on a firearm to prevent rust.

Patchbox
On a musket or flintlock rifle, a small compartment in the stock,
usually with a door or lid, used
for storing patches of greased or oiled cloth, which is rammed down
the barrel, and used to wad or pack the
lead ball or bullet against the powder, providing a seal for better
compression upon firing.

Peep Sight
Rear sight with a small hole, which one peeps through to line up on the
front sight and the target.

Percussion Cap
On older “Cap and Ball” or percussion revolvers, a small, explosive
cap, usually placed on a “percussion nipple” that, when struck by the
hammer, ignites the powder charge through a small hole, firing the
weapon.

Percussion Revolver
An older black powder revolver, in which the hammer strikes a
percussion cap, igniting the main powder charge.

Pinfire
Old, obsolete cartridge with a small
pin protruding from the side, near the base, that when struck by the
firing pin, ignites the main powder charge.

Plinking
Old and obsolete type of cartridge
that had a small metal pin sticking out of the side, at the base, which
when struck, would ignite the charge, firing the bullet.

Primer
Small charge in a cartridge that ignites the powder when struck by the
firing pin, discharging it.

Receiver
The part of a firearm that contains the moving parts, or the action. In
modern firearms, the mechanical area that loads and ejects a cartridge.

Recoil
The energy created by the explosive release of discharging a firearm,
that pushes it back against the person shooting it. It can range from a
gentle bump to a smashing, bone-jarring experience, depending on the
firearm. Remember what physicist Albert Einstein
said? “For every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction.”

Revolver
A firearm with a rotating cylinder that holds cartridges, and aligns
them for loading, unloading and firing.

Rifle
Long-Barreled firearm with a rifled groove cut into the bore of the
barrel.

Rifling
The grooves cut into the bore of a barrel, to cause the bullet to
rotate when fired, improving stability and accuracy in flight.

Rimfire
A cartridge that has its primer in the base, and is ignited by having
the firing pin strike the edge (rim) of the casing, crushing the rim to
ignite it. Modern rimfire cartridges are mainly found only in
small calibers, such as .22 caliber.

Round
Informal way of saying “cartridge” or a shot. Example; “I
fired a couple of rounds at them.”

Sabot or Sabot Bullet
In firearms, sabots are
only known to be used in old black powder guns. A sabot is
basically an adaptor that fits onto the back end of a bullet, to help
trap in gases for more compression, enabling a smaller bullet to be
used in a firearm with a larger bore or caliber.

Safety
A locking catch or mechanism that prevents the trigger from being
pulled, or
otherwise prevents the firearm from being discharged.

Sear
Pivoting part of the action of a firearm connecting the trigger to the
hammer and holding it in place until released by the trigger.

Selective Fire
Feature of a firearm that allows firing either on full-automatic, or
semi-automatic mode, usually with the use of a switch or
lever.

Semi-Automatic
A firearm that automatically extracts and ejects spent cartridges upon
firing, then
re-chambers a new one to be fired, and can repeat this action, one
trigger
pull at a time, until the magazine or clip is empty. This
action takes place very rapidly.

Shot
Small metal balls, grapeshot or buckshot, used in shotgun
cartridges. Shot comes in different sizes.

Shotgun
Firearm with a smoothbore barrel, used to fire buckhot or shot.
Modern shotguns use brass-based plastic cartridges filled
with shot.

Single Action
Firearm that requires the hammer to be manually cocked before pulling
the trigger. On a single-action semi-automatic, you only need to cock
the hammer before firing it for the first round, until it’s reloaded.

Sight
Blade or protusion with a notch in it, usually on both the rear of the
firearm and on the front, above the muzzle, to allow the shooter to
line them up with the target. There are many different types
of sights.

Silencer or Silenced
Device attached to the muzzle of a firearm to muffle or reduce the
sound of firing.

Slide
On firearms (usually semi-automatic pistols) the top part of the action
(usually the entire top of the pistol) that ejects and loads the
chamber by pulling it back, sliding it back
along the frame.

Spitzer
A bullet with a pointed nose

Stock
The long part of a firearm (usually a rifle or musket) held by the
shooter, or braced against the shooter’s hip or shoulder, to stabilize
during firing. Can be wood, polymer, metal etc.

Submachine Gun
Automatic firearm that uses pistol ammunition. Usually a
smaller version of a full-size machine gun. Used for
close-range firing.

Take Down
Button, lever or other device that allows for quick disassembly of a
firearm for cleaning, oiling and maintenance, transportation etc.

Tang
Protusions on the frame or receiver that connect it to the stock or the
grip.